Hướng Việt Performing Arts Group is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization with the goal to promote and popularize Vietnamese traditional music and arts. Since its establishment in 2001, Hướng Việt Performing Arts Group has performed throughout the United States, Canada. Hướng Việt Performing Arts Group actively participates in many community events such as Folklife Festival, Arts Gumbo, and Winter World Festival, and regularly provides educational opportunities through lectures, exhibits, and workshops on Vietnamese culture at universities, community colleges, elementary schools, and libraries.

Dr. Hai Viet Hong, DAOM is the Founder and Executive Director of the Huong Viet Performing Arts Group. Dr. Hong earned a Doctor Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and is currently practicing at Silver Crane Center for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine specilizing in pain management and oncology. He received best Acupuncture clinic award by King5 Evening Magazine in 2013 and named as TOP DOCTOR by Seattle Met Magazine in 2016. While he was an undergraduate student, he served as Vice-President and President of Vietnamese Student Association of Washington and University of Washington, and Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Dr. Hong actively participates in many Vietnamese community non-profit organizations such as Editor in Chief for several magazines, Vietnamese instructor and music director for Đắc Lộ Vietnamese Language School. Dr. Hong’s medical journals and articles frequently published in the popular Vietnamese weekly newspaper, Nguoi Viet Ngay Nay. He is also the host for a popular Traditional medicine program on a popular Vietnamese TV channel, called VietTV. Dr. Hong studied Dan tranh and Vietnamese traditional music with Ong Duc Xuan, Kim Uyen, and Chinese music with professor Chang. He is the first Vietnamese chosen to received the Washington State Arts Commission Folkarts Award to teach Vietnamese music and arts from 2005-2008. Dr. Hong is specilizing in Vietnamese traditional instruments, brush painting, and Vietnamese calligraphy.

Kim Le or Kim Uyen is a composer and virtuoso of Vietnamese traditional music on Dan Tranh. In 1984, she received the National Gold Medal for Excellent DanTranh Performance. Throughout years studying đàn tranh at the Vietnamese Conservatory of Music, Ms. Kim Uyen continuously ranked first in her class and graduated as a valedictorian. Upon her completion for master degree in music at Monash University, Australia, with a Women’s Scholarship, Ms. Kim Uyen actively performed and participated in many traditional musical programs across Asia, Australia, United States, Canada, and Europe. She has produced six albums about Dan Tranh and Vietnamese traditional music, and appeared in numerous radio and television programs. Ms. Kim Uyen is also a member of many prestigious Vietnamese traditional music groups such as Tiếng Hát Quê Hương, Thiếu Nhi Lê Văn Khoa, Back to Back Zither, and Hồng Lạc. She is now residing in Ontario, Canada. Ms. Kim Uyen currently servea as Music Advisor for Hướng Việt Performing Arts Group since 2002
Email: advisor@vietmelody.org

Martin Sjolie: Attorney Sjolie has lived and practiced law in Seattle since 1991. He is an attorney in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, and he currently resides in West Seattle. He was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from St. Olaf College and William Mitchell College of Law. He also has a long history of working within hospitals and nursing homes. In addition to drafting wills and other personal documents, primarily for elderly clients, his practice is devoted to probate, settling auto accident claims, leases and contracts, small business needs, and the other routine legal concerns that beset most people. Attorney Sjokie serves as Legal Advisor for Hướng Việt Performing Arts Group

Etsuko Ito has been an active member and served as Treasurer for Huong Viet Performing Arts Group since 2007. Unlike other members, Etsuko Ito is a Japanese descent, however she is fluent in Vietnamese, English, and Japanese (her native language). Etsuko Ito’s interests include piano, Dan Bau, Dan Tranh, Ty Ba, drums, and Vietnamese dances.
Email: treasurer@vietmelody.org

David Dahl was raised in a musical family in Montana. His family encouraged him to study piano, voice, and later, flute. In 1981 David graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Pacific Lutheran University. His work history since graduation has consisted of positions in the areas of computer administration, development, and support. Until the mid-1990’s he focused on Western Classical music, on piano and flute. In 1997 he became fascinated with traditional Irish music and studied that style on wooden flute for several years. In 2001, David and his wife adopted a baby from Vietnam. After hearing Vietnamese music during his travels to Hanoi and Saigon, he searched for Asian music upon his return to the USA. He began studies of Vietnamese music, especially on the dan bau, since. David Dahl has been an active member with Huong Viet Performing Arts Group since 2003 and served as our group Marketing Chair since 2013.

Da Ba has been an active member and served as Media Chair for Huong Viet Performing Arts Group since 2005. Majority of photos posted in this website are taken by Da Ba. Our 2 recent DVDs (Vietnam Essence of Yesteryear 5 and 6) were shot and edited by him.
Email: media@vietmelody.org

Volunteer positions available, please contact us if you are interested.

Public Relations

Marketing

Volunteer Coordinators

ACTIVE MEMBERS

Loan Nguyen has been an active member since 2005. Loan Nguyen is also a professional dancer (ballet and modern dance), Dan Tranh and Dan Bau artist. Her other interest include Dan Ty Ba, Dan Nguyet, classical guitar as well as the arts of Vietnamese calligraphy and brush painting. Loan Nguyen is also a 2008 Washington Folk Arts recipient for brush painting.

Minh-Ngoc Tran & Xuan-Loan Nguyen: both Minh Ngoc Tran and Xuan Loan Nguyen are dan tranh students of Dr. Hong. Both serves has been active members since 2012